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SKIN CANCER: Increasing Antioxidants At The Skin Level

For those of you who know me, you know why I am so passionate about sharing information and research on skin cancer and cancer prevention. For those who don’t, my husband Michael passed away from melanoma skin cancer on Christmas eve 2010.

Skin cancer rates are rising rapidly. As a nutritional consultant I have known for a long time that a diet high in antioxidants is important for cancer prevention and recovery.

Recently, while continuing my research, I came across information that indicated that the need for antioxidants for people who smoke is even higher. In fact, in people who smoke or continually breathe second hand smoke, the level of antioxidant stores at the skin level are very low. It would probably be logical then to assume that breathing polluted air (e.g. pesticides) would also reflect in insufficient antioxidant stores at the skin level.

UV exposure has been a known contributing cause of skin cancers, including melanoma. The rates of melanoma and deaths from melanoma have increased alarmingly over the last four decades. Research now shows links between UV and pesticide exposures in some cases of melanoma. Pesticides are used in agriculture, parks, golf courses, lawns and in homes. Know your risks – https://www.organicconsumers.org/news/farm-pesticides-linked-deadly-skin-cancer.

In sight of increase in skin cancer rates and research information that some essential oils provide protection from UVA, UVB and UVC damage; it would be prudent for all persons at risk of skin cancer to augment their antioxidant diet intake with essential oils high in antioxidant levels at the skin level. Adding several drops of each of the following essential oils (my skin cancer protection recipe is a mix of fractionated coconut oil in a 30ml bottle with , 3 drops myrrh, 1 drop clove, 4 drops frankincense and 3 drops sandalwood), to your regular 100% natural skin lotions or to some pure fractionated coconut oil would be a proactive skin cancer protection measure. Since your skin is your largest organ, applying essential oils high in antioxidants and cancer protection properties can provide absorption and distribution to other areas of the body.

What does essential oil scientific research say about the protective properties of essential oils?

Make sure that you use only certified pure therapeutic grade essential oils to your skin. Not all essential oils are equal. Make sure you understand the differences. You will find many cheap essential oils – know what you are getting and comparing. I am vigilant about making sure my food and my personal care products do not contain unwanted additives/contaminants – I am just as vigilant about the essential oils that I use. Contact me at www.mydoterra.com/elisabethlhines to get my ‘best essential oil’ selection.

Synthetic Oils: These are your chemical essential oils that are found in perfumes, and as fragrances in shampoo, soaps, deodorants etc. This represents the largest group of oils on the market today.

Food Grade Oils: These are your food oils like lemon oil, rose oil, etc that the FDA has labeled safe for consumption. These are still not pure essential oils.

Therapeutic Grade Essential Oils: These can be purchased in dollar stores, body and bath stores, health stores and more. For many years, this has been the highest standard of oils in the market. Therapeutic Grade Essential Oils go through a testing process called Gas Chromatography. Most reputable companies in the Essential Oil industry conduct this test. This test checks and insures that the oil contains the correct compounds; however, it does not determine if the oil contains any impurities, pesticides or other chemicals.

CPTG: Certified Pure Therapeutic Grade Essential Oils: This is the highest standard of Essential Oils in the market today. There is only one company on the Market right now that has gone a step further to insure quality. Certified Pure Therapeutic Grade Essential Oils are third party tested. The first test is the Gas Chromatography and the second is Mass Spectrometry. The Mass Spectrometry test checks all the compounds in the oil and also checks for pesticides or any other impurities that may be present in the oil. Certified Pure Therapeutic Grade™® Essential Oils are guaranteed to be 100% pure, natural and free of synthetic compounds or contaminates.

Consider creating a GO GREEN HEALTHY BEAUTY KIT as a gift for some of the people on your shopping list. Each kit can be designed to provide enough supplies for the number of people sharing the kit.